Dwyane Wade will take the court at American Airlines Arena on Thursday night, but for the first time ever, he won’t be wearing a Miami Heat uniform.

Wade makes his much-anticipated return to Miami as he and the Chicago Bulls take on the team he spent 13 NBA seasons with. There’s plenty of drama surrounding the game, as Wade and Heat owner Pat Riley didn’t depart on the best terms.

As for the on-court matchup, Miami enters with a 2-4 record while Chicago is 4-4 but has lost four of its last five games.

“I write this to you today as a 41-year-old man who is retiring from the game,” Allen writes in his letter, which details the obstacles he overcame throughout his storied basketball career. “I write to you as a man who is completely at peace with himself.”

Allen’s contract with the Miami Heat expired after the 2013-14 season, and he hasn’t played since. There were rumors about Allen possibly making a comeback with the Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks or teaming up with the Golden State Warriors, but it appears he’s finally calling it quits.

The announcement closes the door on Allen’s stellar 19-season NBA career, which saw him win two NBA championships, make 10 All-Star teams and finish as the league’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals made with 2,973. He also boasted an incredible .400 career 3-point percentage.

The UConn product spent his first seven-plus seasons in Milwaukee before joining the Seattle SuperSonics for five seasons. He landed with the Celtics in 2007 and helped lead Boston to its 17th NBA title in 2008, averaging 17.4 points per game during the 2007-08 campaign. After five seasons with Boston, Allen spent the final two seasons of his career with Miami, where his clutch 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals helped lead LeBron James and Co. to an eventual title.

The NBA’s prohibitive title favorite is in the Western Conference, but the defending champions still reside in the East.

That’d be the Cleveland Cavaliers, who rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals to shock the Golden State Warriors. Not surprisingly, the Cavs remain the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, as LeBron James has virtually his same supporting cast coming back.

But several teams could challenge Cleveland for the East crown, including the Boston Celtics, who added All-Star forward Al Horford to a team that won 48 games last season.

So, how will the East shake out? Let’s break it down by division, with each team’s projected 2016-17 record and overall seed in the East in parentheses.

ATLANTIC DIVISION1. Toronto Raptors (Projected record: 52-30; Projected overall seed: 2nd)Key Additions: Jared Sullinger (free agency), Jakob Poeltl (draft)Key Departures: Luis Scola (free agency), Bismack Biyombo (free agency)Skinny: With their All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan still intact, the Raptors should be right back near the top of the East after their strong 2015-16 campaign. But Scola and Biyombo won’t be easy to replace, and Sullinger must prove himself after an up-and-down tenure in Boston.

2. Boston Celtics (50-32; 3rd)Key Additions:Al Horford (free agent), Jaylen Brown (draft)Key Departures: Evan Turner (free agency)Skinny: The Celtics lost the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, but Horford still is a very solid addition who should fit well in Brad Stevens’ pace-and-space system. Add in a motivated Isaiah Thomas and a solid core led by Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley, and the C’s should be a 50-win team this season.

3. New York Knicks (36-48, 11th)Key Additions: Derrick Rose (trade), Joakim Noah (free agency)Key Departures:Robin Lopez (trade), Jerian Grant (free agency), Jose Calderon (trade)Skinny:On paper, New York’s starting five of Rose, Courtney Lee, Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah looks potent. But the Knicks still have no depth, and it’s only a matter of time before egos collide and this team self-implodes.

4. Philadelphia 76ers (25-57, 14th)Key Additions:Ben Simmons (draft)Key Departures:NoneSkinny: “The Process” yielded another highly-touted No. 1 pick in Simmons, who promptly suffered a stress fracture in his foot and will miss at least a few months. On the bright side, at least Joel Embiid finally is playing.

2. Indiana Pacers (46-36, 4th)Key Additions:Jeff Teague (trade), Al Jefferson (free agency), Thaddeus Young (trade)Key Departures:George Hill (trade)Skinny: The Pacers quietly had themselves a solid offseason and now have a deep team that could bring Jefferson off the bench behind exciting 20-year-old big man Myles Turner. If Paul George stays healthy, Indiana could be a team to be reckoned with.

3. Detroit Pistons (45-37, 7th)Key Additions:Ish Smith (free agency), Jon Leuer (free agency)Key Departures:Jodie Meeks (trade)Skinny: Stan Van Gundy is building a solid team in Detroit that won 17 of its final 28 games last season after trading for big man Tobias Harris. Reggie Jackson missing the first first six to eight weeks with a knee injury isn’t ideal, but the Pistons should improve on their 44-win campaign.

4. Chicago Bulls (44-38, 6th)Key Additions: Dwyane Wade (free agent), Rajon Rondo (free agent), Robin Lopez (trade)Key Departures: Derrick Rose (trade), Joakim Noah (trade), Tony Snell (trade)Skinny: Like a better version of the Knicks, the new-look Bulls boast an impressive starting five and should be intriguing to watch. But even if Jimmy Butler continues to shine, we don’t trust Rondo and an aging Wade to bring this team anywhere past a first-round playoff exit.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (32-50, 13th)Key Additions:Tony Snell (trade), Thon Maker (draft), Matthew Dellavedova (free agency)Key Departures: Michael Carter-Williams (trade)Skinny: The 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokonmpo playing point guard is a sight to see, and Jabari Parker could make an impact in his second season back from ACL surgery. But Khris Middleton’s hamstring injury is a huge blow that should end any postseason aspirations.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION1. Charlotte Hornets (46-36, 5th)Key Additions: Roy Hibbert (free agency), Ramon Sessions (free agency)Key Departures:Jeremy Lin (free agency), Al Jefferson (free agency), Courtney Lee (free agency)Skinny:Losing Lin and Jefferson hurts, but the Hornets are capable of having another strong season if Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can stay on the floor and Hibbert can deliver in the frontcourt. This team has a solid nucleus and should be in the thick of the playoff hunt once again.

2. Atlanta Hawks (45-37, 8th)Key Additions:Dwight Howard (free agency)Key Departures:Al Horford (free agency), Jeff Teague (trade)Skinny: The core of Dennis Schroeder, Paul Millsap, Kent Bazemore and Kyle Korver should help the Hawks return to the playoffs without Horford and Teague, but adding a 30-year-old Howard won’t take them any further than last season.

4. Washington Wizards (40-42, 10th)Key Additions: Trey Burke (trade), Ian Mahinmi (free agency)Key Departures:NoneSkinny: As always, Washington’s hopes hinge on the backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal. Both will need to be healthy and effective for the Wizards to make the playoffs in their first season under new head coach Scott Brooks.

5. Orlando Magic (35-47, 12th)Key Additions:Serge Ibaka (trade), Jeff Green (free agency), Bismack Biyombo (free agency)Key Departures: Victor Oladipo (trade)Skinny: The Magic aren’t necessarily a better team after shipping Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for the 27-year-old Ibaka. Given the current state of the East, a playoff berth will be a tall task.

A reunion between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade could have happened this summer, but the NBA’s financial constraints (salary cap and luxury tax) made it too difficult for the Cleveland Cavaliers to pull it off.

“I support my guys — you guys know that,” James added. “That was a decision that he wanted to make, and I support him.”

James left Cleveland as a free agent in 2010 to join Wade’s Miami Heat team, along with free-agent star Chris Bosh. This trio went to four straight NBA Finals with the Heat and won two of them (2012 and 2013).

James, to the surprise of many, left Miami shortly after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals and made a return to Cleveland. He’s led the Cavs to back-to-back Finals appearances — both against the Golden State Warriors — winning the franchise’s first championship in June.

While it wasn’t inconceivable that James would eventually come back to his hometown, the thought of Wade leaving Miami certainly seemed like a slim possibility. He’s the best player in Heat history and the community loves him.

But the longer Wade and the Heat went into free agency without agreeing to a new contract, the chances of him leaving increased, and possible destinations included Cleveland and the Chicago Bulls. Wade ultimately landed in Chicago — his hometown — to join the Bulls, but it definitely would’ve been cool to see him and James chase another title with the Cavaliers.

Jose Fernandez’s death left Major League Baseball in mourning, but the shock waves were felt throughout other sports, too.

The Marlins ace died in a boating accident in Miami on Sept. 25 at the age of 24, affecting not only Fernandez’s loved ones, but the entire city. That was evident when the Miami Dolphins observed a moment of silence for him at Hard Rock Stadium, and on Tuesday, it was the Miami Heat’s turn to pay their respects.

The Heat played their first home preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets, and the team wore shooting shirts with Fernandez’s initials and number. They also began the game with a moment of silence.

“It was a devastating blow to all of us in South Florida,” Spoelstra said Tuesday, per the Sun-Sentinel. “And our hearts go out to his family and everybody at the Marlins. It’s so tragic for a player so young.

“But we also want to acknowledge the other two gentlemen that were on that boat, as well, and their families. So really this night is to honor him, show respect to the families, but also the other two gentlemen and their families.”

Heat president Pat Riley said Monday he believes Chris Bosh’s tenure in Miami is over and that the team is “not working toward his return.”

“We feel that, based on the last exam, that his Heat career is probably over,” Riley told reporters at the team’s media day, via the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The Heat are in a tricky situation with Bosh, as the All-Star forward recently failed his preseason physical after a medical exam found more evidence of blood clots. Bosh initially was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung in February 2015, and he has been dealing with the dangerous condition for the past two seasons.

The Heat would receive salary cap relief from Bosh’s contract if he’s ruled medically unable to play, but Riley insisted money had nothing to do with the team’s decision not to bring back the veteran.

“His health, playing and economics — it’s been health, health, health,” Riley said. “Whatever the cap ramifications are, they are there, but we never ever thought about that.”

Bosh has been a staple in Miami since teaming up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in 2010. Bosh has been an All-Star in each of his six seasons with the Heat, averaging 18 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over that span and playing a major role on Miami’s two NBA championship teams in 2012 and 2013.

Bosh has stayed in Miami during the departures of James in 2014 and Wade this offseason. But at 32 years old with a serious medical condition still lingering, Bosh’s NBA future remains in doubt, as it’s hard to imagine another team taking on his contract.

When asked if he believed Bosh’s NBA career was over, Riley said, “That’s up to him.”

Aldridge, who was walking her child along with a man, was shot in the head and arm after two men approached her companion, according to the police, via the Chicago Tribune.

“This is one particular time our family wished we didn’t have to be speaking to the media about anything,” Wade’s mother Jolinda Wade said, via NBC Chicago. “(I) just sat up on a panel yesterday, (with ESPN wesbite) The Undefeated, talking about the violence that’s going on within our city of Chicago, never knowing that we would be the ones … actually living and experiencing it.”

The child was unharmed in the shooting and was taken away from the crime scene by a relative.

Tyler Johnson did what anyone would do when presented with more money than he or she has ever seen: fell ill.

The Miami Heat guard told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Monday that he vomited when he received a four-year, $50 million contract offer from the Brooklyn Nets that the Heat eventually matched.

Johnson, 24, has started just seven games in his NBA career, but added NBA revenue has led to free-agent salaries, even for role players, rocketing to dizzying heights at warp speed.

“I threw up a couple of times when I heard the number go out there,” Johnson said. “I was in shock. I even lost a little bit of weight, because just the anxiety of going through that whole process and not knowing where I was going to be.”

Perhaps Johnson’s illness was rooted in the fact that he had prepared himself to move to Brooklyn only for the Heat to disrupt the restricted free agent’s plans by matching the Nets’ generous offer.

“It was very late in the process,” Johnson continued. “I had already kind of come to the assumption that everything was going to play out the way it didn’t, really, like they were going to re-sign Dwyane (Wade) and everything. I think that kind of threw a wrench in everything. It was only a matter of an hour and a half where I had to make the decision of either signing an offer sheet that I kind of committed to or just not signing and restructure a new deal.”

Johnson earned just $1.3 million combined in his first two seasons in the NBA, per Basketball-Reference.com. Miami will pay him $12.5 million annually beginning this season, and his purchasing power likely will grow if he develops into the player the Heat think he will become.

If Johnson enters the free-agent market again in 2020, he might want to invest in a bigger, gold-plated bucket to use when he receives another offer.

Wade had spent all 13 seasons of his career with the Heat, was an All-Star in 12 of them and leads Miami’s all-time list in scoring (20,221 points), games (855) and assists (4,944), just to name a few. So, it surprised most everyone Wednesday when Wade chose to join his hometown Chicago Bulls instead of remaining in South Beach.

“SADDDDDDD!!!! SO saddddddd!” the Heat president’s text read, per Le Batard. “I will never forget the sixth game in Dallas in 2006. DW rebounded the ball, and threw it to the heavens and the Heat universe was perfect for that moment. Our first world championship. Our universe is not perfect today. It will be fraught with anger, judgment, blame instead of THANK YOU!!! Ten years ago. Ten years older. Ten years wiser. Ten years changed. All of us.

“Dwyane had a choice, and he made it. He went home. Bad, bad summer for us. But there will be another 10 years, and it will be someone or something else in 2026. Move on with no blood or tears. Just thanks. I truly loved Dwyane, but families grow, change and get on with another life. He will always be a part of us. ALWAYS! And no more bruises and enough fighting. Let’s just fly above it if we can and never forget. I feel his pain and pride for what pushed him over the ledge. Been there. Forever, for always, your coach I will be. FOREVER!”

It sounds like Riley already started drowning his sorrows before sending that text.

Durant, the most highly coveted NBA free agent since LeBron James went back to the Cleveland Cavaliers two years ago, had meetings over the past few days with the Warriors, Thunder, Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. He reportedly already eliminated the Clippers from consideration, and he’s also apparently “strongly considering” Golden State.

But Blakely’s sources seemed to hint at the Celtics still being in the running, thanks to their pitch, which included Tom Brady, on Saturday in The Hamptons.

Boston Celtics fans might need to root for an upset on the Fourth of July.

Free-agent superstar Kevin Durant, who met with six teams over the past few days, apparently narrowed his list to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN NBA writer Royce Young.

Despite the Celtics’ best efforts — Tom Brady, Al Horford, etc. — a Sunday afternoon report said Durant is “strongly considering” signing with the Warriors, who apparently made a last-second push with a phone call from team executive and former Los Angeles Lakers great Jerry West. And it always has been widely assumed that the former NBA MVP will have the Thunder on his final list.

But don’t give up hope yet, Celtics, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs fans — sorry, Los Angeles Clippers fans, your team reportedly already has been eliminated. Reports also seemed to indicate Horford would return to the Atlanta Hawks before he signed with Boston.

KD has a lot to think about before he makes some fireworks on the Fourth of July.

It’s hard to imagine Dwyane Wade wearing any uniform other than the Miami Heat’s, but that very well could happen in the upcoming days.

The NBA veteran has played each of his 13 seasons in Miami, winning three championships along the way. However, contract talks between the sides reportedly haven’t gone well, leading Wade to consider offers from other teams in free agency.

And it appears one of those teams is the Denver Nuggets, who have room to offer Wade a larger contract at the moment.

The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar met with the Boston Celtics on Saturday in front of a group that included New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. In addition to the Celtics and Heat, Durant also has held meetings with the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.

Hassan Whiteside announced Friday that he’s re-signing with the Heat. Now, Miami’s attention must shift to its biggest star, as there’s an interesting situation brewing with Dwyane Wade.

Wade’s initial contract talks with the Heat reportedly haven’t gone well, causing the 34-year-old to at least consider other offers in free agency. Aware of this contract impasse, other NBA teams are ramping up their efforts to pry Wade away from the organization that drafted him in 2003, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports’ The Vertical.

Who knows whether D-Wade actually is considering a move or if it’s all a bluff designed to land a more desirable contract with the Heat. The 12-time All-Star guard’s free agency is becoming more and more intriguing, though, as it’s crazy to think of Wade playing elsewhere after 13 seasons in Miami.

Wade averaged 19 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists while playing a career-low 30.5 minutes per game this past season. He’s not the superstar he once was, but he’s still a very good player who has been the face of the Heat for well over a decade.

Whiteside announced Friday on The Players’ Tribune that he’ll re-sign with the Miami Heat in free agency. A person familiar with the terms of the agreement told ESPN the 27-year-old center will sign a four-year contract worth around $98 million (the maximum amount Miami could offer).

“I’ve played on eight teams since college — from Reno to Sioux Falls to Sichuan, China,” Whiteside wrote in the post. “I am not ready for there to be a ninth.”

The Heat prioritized re-signing Whiteside this offseason, but there was some competition for the 7-footer’s services. A report Thursday indicated that the Dallas Mavericks had become the front-runners to land Whiteside as the Heat lost ground. Apparently, that wasn’t the case after all.

Whiteside is coming off a breakout season in which he led the NBA in blocks. He averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game over 73 regular-season contests while finishing third in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting.

NBA free agency kicks off Friday, and some guy named Kevin Durant is hitting the market for the first time in his career. Maybe you’ve heard of him.

But after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s former MVP makes his decision, who’s the next man up on offseason wish lists? So much time has been dedicated to Durant’s future plans, and deservedly so — he’s arguably the second-biggest name to ever hit the free-agent market. But since only one team can land the 27-year-old, that means 29 other teams will be looking elsewhere.

We took a closer look at the top names becoming available next month, and offered a suggestion on what their best fit might be.

1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Only two other players on the planet potentially could nudge Durant from this spot. LeBron James already said he’s re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Stephen Curry still has a year remaining on his contract with the Golden State Warriors. Durant is a true generational talent and will thrive wherever he goes. Of the six teams he’s reportedly given meetings to, the Warriors clearly are the most talented. And while the Boston Celtics might be his best option should he look to the Eastern Conference, they’d still probably be a piece away from raising banner 18 in 2017.Best fit: Thunder or Warriors.

2. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
As has been the case throughout his NBA career, Conley is being overlooked on the free-agent market this season. He’s one of the best point guards in the NBA, a good defender, shooter and passer, and he’s a leader on the playoff-experienced Memphis Grizzlies. He has the San Antonio Spurs looking all over him, though the Dallas Mavericks reportedly will push hard for his services. But as USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick told NESN.com recently, his close friendship with center Marc Gasol, who just re-signed with Memphis last season, might pull at Conley’s loyalty and keep him in Memphis.Best fit: Spurs.

3. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Drummond is just 22 and has blossomed into one of the best centers in the NBA, but he’s a restricted free agent and reportedly hasn’t signed an extension with Detroit. He’d be a terrific fit on a lot of teams, despite the movement away from traditional big men, but he won’t be going anywhere this summer.Best fit: Pistons.

4. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
DeRozan has blossomed into a terrific scorer and averaged a career-high 23.5 points per game last season. But the 26-year-old is a streaky shooter and tends to disappear, often on the big stage. Still, he’ll command a maximum contract and likely will get it from the Raptors, who love what he brings to the table and accept his flaws. But the Los Angeles Lakers are in hot pursuit of DeRozan, who grew up in Compton, Calif. and attended University of Southern California. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him in L.A. next month.Best fit: Raptors or Lakers.

5. Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Horford, 30, is one of the best pure post players on the market. He’s a major injury risk, but his All-Star appearances the past two seasons — and the relative success of the Hawks — indicate he’s worth whatever contract he gets. The Hawks’ best move might be to rebuild, so don’t be shocked to see Horford leave the ATL, especially if he happens to be the player Durant wants to leave and play with. He’s exactly the post scorer the Celtics and Warriors need, and those seem like his most likely landing spots.Best fit: Warriors or Celtics.

6. Harrison Barnes, Warriors
Barnes had a terrible playoffs in which he practically single-handedly shot Golden State out of another title. But he’s still just 24, is a good scorer, shooter, rebounder and defender and will still get a max contract. Still, it’s probably best for the Warriors to replace Barnes with a cheaper option or keep that money for a bigger name (like Durant). We won’t know for sure if Barnes is worthy of that money and can be a No. 1 option until we see him elsewhere, but it won’t stop a team like the Lakers or Philadelphia 76ers — who were the bottom two teams in both points scored and allowed — from giving it to him.Best fit: 76ers or Lakers.

7. Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
Whiteside is the best rim protector in the league, an elite shot blocker and rebounder, and has a developing post game that certainly won’t hurt a team’s offense. He’s probably not worthy of a max contract, but he’ll get one with so much money available. Portland desperately needs a big man, the Celtics need a real rim protector and the Mavericks appear to be in hot pursuit. Whiteside could be a Lakers target, too. Don’t be shocked if Miami lets him walk, especially if they keep Dwyane Wade.Best fit: Trail Blazers or Mavericks.

8. Dwyane Wade, Heat
If the Heat wanted to pay Wade, they would have by now. At 34 and after a career full of knee injuries (despite his elite performance), Wade is a huge gamble to pay big money to. He says he’s open to leaving Miami for the first time in his career, but unless LeBron James is meeting him in that new destination, we’re not counting on it happening. Maybe the Knicks, whose most glaring whole is a shooting guard, sweep in and pay Wade to unite him with buddy Carmelo Anthony. But Miami probably will cave and give him one more big deal on a short contract — especially if they find a way to rid themselves of Chris Bosh’s contract.Best fit: Heat or Knicks.

9. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
Beal just turned 23 and has shown flashes of being an All-Star when healthy. But that’s his problem — he hasn’t been healthy very often. He says he deserves a max contract, which he doesn’t but likely will get. He’s also said that if the Wizards don’t pay him, he’s happy to take his talents elsewhere. The Heat desperately need youth and shooting, which he provides. They’ll need a shooting guard if Wade moves on, too.Best fit: Heat.

10. Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
Howard just declined a $23.2 million player option and wants another max contract. He, too, is crazy for thinking he deserves it, but he too will probably get it. The Celtics and Mavericks have long coveted Howard. The Blazers need a big man. The Hawks will be interested should they lose Horford, as will the Heat if they lose Whiteside. The Knicks love overpaying old, former All-Stars past their prime. He still can help a team, but he’ll likely have to accept a one- or two-year contract to do so.Best fit: Celtics or Blazers.

If nothing else, the next couple of minutes will remind you of the fact that LeBron James is a really good basketball player.

James is on top of the basketball world after turning in one of the most impressive three-game stretches in NBA history to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA title earlier this month.

The local boy came through on his pledge to Cleveland by giving the city its first championship in more than 50 years. Of course, it wasn’t always harmonious between James and Cleveland after he bolted for Miami in 2010.

But that’s water under the bridge, and there’s no denying James’ place among the all-time greats. One accomplished YouTube user did a tremendous job of encapsulating James’ career by pitting James against himself in a game of a 1-on-1 with some rather impressive video cutting.

Dwyane Wade has spent his entire 13-year career with the Miami Heat and won three NBA titles, so it’s hard to imagine him calling any place other than South Beach home.

But apparently his early contract talks with the Heat haven’t gone well, and league sources told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that Wade is planning on listening to offers from other teams once he becomes a free agent Friday. And in a sign that Wade means business, sources told ESPN that his camp already has informed some teams about his openness to offers.

This is a big offseason for the Heat, as Wade, 34, and big man Hassan Whiteside both are impending free agents, and Miami is one of six teams meeting with Kevin Durant.

Wade, who signed a one-year deal with the Heat last offseason, averaged 19 points in 74 games.

Roughly six years after LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has the chance to alter the NBA landscape when he enters unrestricted free agency July 1.

As expected, there are suitors aplenty for the 27-year-old superstar. But some have a better shot at landing KD than others, and at the top of that list are the six teams reportedly expected to conduct meetings with Durant when free agency begins: the Thunder, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.

Of course, Durant could surprise everyone and sign with another team not on that list. For the sake of our sanity, though, we’ll stick to this sextet and rank them from least likely to most likely to win the Durant sweepstakes.

6. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers benefit from a strong market, a talented roster and a solid front office led by head coach/president of basketball operations Doc Rivers. That said, they’d likely have to move forward Blake Griffin in a sign-and-trade to make room for Durant’s maximum contract, and while the Clippers would be serious title contenders with the seven-time All-Star, they’d still have to get past the Warriors and the Spurs in a loaded Western Conference.

5. Boston Celtics
Yes, Brad Stevens is an excellent coach. Yes, the Celtics have a talented young roster and are loaded with assets. But they’re not quite at “title contender” level yet. Boston’s failure to add an established veteran in a draft-night trade means the Celtics will have to lure at least one other big-name free agent outside Durant. The Hub never has been a premier free agent destination, so that task will be easier said than done.

4. Miami Heat
If Durant decides to jump ship to the less competitive Eastern Conference, Miami is his most likely landing spot. The Heat boast a promising young core, Dwyane Wade should have a few good seasons left in him and Miami is a star-friendly market. The Heat also have Pat Riley, the headstrong team president who was able to bring James to Miami in 2010, on their side.

3. San Antonio Spurs
We shudder to think what head coach Gregg Popovich could do with Durant added to his already well-balanced squad. The market isn’t ideal and San Antonio’s Big Three is in its twilight stages, but a trio of Durant, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge would be more than enough to give KD a very, very strong shot at his first ring.

2. Golden State Warriors
From a pure basketball perspective, the Warriors have the strongest pitch on this list: They won an NBA-record 73 games last season and came back from a 3-1 series deficit to knock off Durant’s Thunder in the Western Conference finals. Durant might have to share a bit with the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but Golden State’s high-octane, free-flowing offense would be a perfect fit for the versatile sharpshooter.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
With all due respect to the league’s other 29 teams, Durant is the Thunder’s star to lose. General manager Sam Presti made a shrewd move on draft night by dealing the declining Serge Ibaka for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and No. 11 pick Domantas Sabonis, improving a squad that came within one game of this year’s NBA Finals.

What makes the most sense for Durant is signing a two-year maximum contract with OKC, with a player option for Year 2. That would allow him to make one more run at a title with the franchise he began his career with, then seek a more lucrative contract when the NBA’s new TV deal raises the salary cap ahead of the 2017-18 season.

The Boston Celtics might be one step closer to putting Kevin Durant in green.

Boston is one of six teams that is expected to meet with the seven-time Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star when NBA free agency begins July 1, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, citing league sources.

Durant is planning to hold free agency meetings in New York and have teams come to him, Wojnarowski reported. The Celtics are on a pending list that includes the Thunder, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat.

Several other interested teams — including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards — currently are on the outside looking in.

Wojnarowski’s sources added that while the Thunder are the favorite to re-sign Durant to a “one-plus-one-year deal that will allow Durant to return to free agency in the summer of 2017,” the Warriors have Durant’s attention more than any other team.

Durant’s criteria for his selection, per Wojnarowski, is simple: He wants the best chance to win championships immediately.